Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-12-16
some windhnm County s,n,i.ric-

lhc brattlebprn correspondent ot the
Springfield Republican in late Sundays is
sue, alluding 10 the general and continuous
decline of business and population in the
farming towns of Vermont gives some in
teresting figures showing the condition of
things in this county:
odd Windham Of all the counties in the
state has, perhaps, been less affected by the
present conditions aud a careful inquiry in
every town furnishes a somewhat interest
ing story. Athens farmers are keeping
better grade of stock than heretofore and
are raising larger crops ON the same acreage
than they have for some time. The little
town is isolated and has no village. The
population of this town remains the same
as at the last census. Brattleboro, as your
readers already know, is having large
and healthy growth, undoubtedly at the ex
pense of some of the small towns Brook
line has built four new houses within the
past two years at an aggregate cost of about
$1,000. The population has decreased from
90j in 1880 to $50 now. An old resident
assigned the cause to the fact that other
business pays better than farming, and to
the decrease in the number Of births Dunn
merston has had three new dwellings with
in two years at a cost of about $1,000. The
town has increased in population some on
account of the recent development of the
granite quarry there. The total population
is not far from Sl6. Dover's record shows
that some $1,000 have been laid out in build
ing during the two years. There has been
no material increase or decrease in popula
ton since 1882. Guilford has built five
new buildings in the same time, costing
about $500. The town has about held its
own in population Grafton has four new
i. ST, al,
5000. The population has gained from
925 in 1889 To $50 at the present time
Halifax has lost about 80 of its inhabitants
in the past five years, having about 800 to
daV. The cause of the loss is attributed to
Brattleboros refusal TO help the town TO Il
railroad. Londonderry shows four new
houses in two years past at AN average cost
of $500 The population is said to he de
creasug from that of 1880 when it was
l1lI. Marlhuru has erected two new build
ings at "A cost of about $1,000. The popu-
latiun, 800, is about the same as in 1890
NeWfanc has had very little, if any,
building within two years and the popula-
ton is about the same us five years ago.
Little Putney shows good progress and
the farmers are generally well to do Some
Is new buildings have been built in the last
two years, costing from SlI 600 to SEQ 600
Some of these are manufacturing establish
ments, Sl5, 900 having gone into new ma
chnery The population of ll24 in 1880
has also increased Rockingham has shown
a rapid advance in Bellows Falls an ac-
count of which The Republican has already
given. Stratton has put up two dwellings
in the past two years to replace two burned.
The population is about 3O2, and has not
changed much, though there are signs Of
decay in the farms. Somerset has been for
tmate in having a profitable numbering
business during the past two years. Per
haps $1,000 will cover the hetterments in
| the past five years. The population num-
bers ~ with grand list Of S4Sl, Towns
1 hend suffered severely from a large fire
over year ago, though part of the loss
has been made up by the erection of new
buildings The population has not material
| ly changed, the number being about the
-ame as five years ago. Vernon has eX-
led some $1,000 in new buildings and re
.rrs in two years. The population, Gj2, is
about as il was in 1890 The town has
| about held its own Nottingham has built
/ two mills, six dwellings, one new barn and
depot at cost of about Sl5,OOO. The
| town is favored with an excellent water
power. The population is some 1900 vii
mington has built no new buildings
in two years, though the town holds its own
reasonably well The population is not far
from 1870, Windham has built black
smith shop, and one new house, all of which
cost. perhaps, S2OOu. The farms under
cultivation are as IA whole, improving al
though the population has decreased from
500 in 1850. Westminster has three new